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| Greater Manchester firefighters to take part in cancer monitoring project | Greater Manchester firefighters to take part in cancer monitoring project |
| (1 day later) | |
| There are toxins and carcinogens in all fires, whether a barbecue or a house fire | There are toxins and carcinogens in all fires, whether a barbecue or a house fire |
| Life-saving firefighter cancer monitoring is to be launched as part of a UK-wide research project commissioned by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU). | Life-saving firefighter cancer monitoring is to be launched as part of a UK-wide research project commissioned by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU). |
| The testing is being carried out this week in Greater Manchester by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), led by Professor Anna Stec. | The testing is being carried out this week in Greater Manchester by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), led by Professor Anna Stec. |
| A total of 100 firefighters will provide blood and urine samples. | A total of 100 firefighters will provide blood and urine samples. |
| Dave Russell, chief fire officer for the region, said it was a "significant step forward for firefighter safety". | |
| The samples will be analysed for the number of biomarkers of cancers and other diseases, and toxic chemicals. | The samples will be analysed for the number of biomarkers of cancers and other diseases, and toxic chemicals. |
| Heightened cancer risk | Heightened cancer risk |
| The results will be used to detect cancers and other diseases at the early stages and to identify evidence linking occupational cancers with exposure to toxic fire chemicals. | The results will be used to detect cancers and other diseases at the early stages and to identify evidence linking occupational cancers with exposure to toxic fire chemicals. |
| Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service is working with the FBU and UCLan to facilitate the testing. | Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service is working with the FBU and UCLan to facilitate the testing. |
| Research has found that instances of cancer among UK firefighters aged 35-39 is up to 323% higher than in the general population in the same age category. | Research has found that instances of cancer among UK firefighters aged 35-39 is up to 323% higher than in the general population in the same age category. |
| Firefighters' uniforms have been found to contain high levels of carcinogens | Firefighters' uniforms have been found to contain high levels of carcinogens |
| It also found firefighters were significantly more likely to die from rare cancers, heart attacks and stroke, and several other diseases. | It also found firefighters were significantly more likely to die from rare cancers, heart attacks and stroke, and several other diseases. |
| Riccardo la Torre, FBU national officer, said: "We launched the first firefighter health monitoring project of its kind in the UK in February and are proud to now be testing even more firefighters. | Riccardo la Torre, FBU national officer, said: "We launched the first firefighter health monitoring project of its kind in the UK in February and are proud to now be testing even more firefighters. |
| "The government and fire service employers have ignored firefighters and their exposures to toxic contaminants for far too long." | "The government and fire service employers have ignored firefighters and their exposures to toxic contaminants for far too long." |
| He said lack of health monitoring meant cancers were being "caught tragically late, at much more untreatable stages" and firefighters were "dying far too often and far too early". | He said lack of health monitoring meant cancers were being "caught tragically late, at much more untreatable stages" and firefighters were "dying far too often and far too early". |
| Researchers say cancer is the leading cause of death among line of duty firefighters | Researchers say cancer is the leading cause of death among line of duty firefighters |
| "We won't stop until every firefighter in the UK has access to regular health monitoring," he added. | "We won't stop until every firefighter in the UK has access to regular health monitoring," he added. |
| Prof Stec from UCLan, said it was "widely accepted that firefighters are dying from rare cancers up to 15-20 years earlier than the general public". | |
| "It is therefore vital that measures such as health monitoring is introduced so firefighters can be properly protected." | "It is therefore vital that measures such as health monitoring is introduced so firefighters can be properly protected." |
| Dave Pike, FBU Greater Manchester brigade secretary, said the project was "part of our fight for protections from cancers, in the memory of every firefighter we have already lost". | |
| "Every service across the UK must follow this positive example," he added. | |
| Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk | Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service | Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service |
| Firefighting | Firefighting |
| Fire Brigades Union | Fire Brigades Union |
| University of Central Lancashire | University of Central Lancashire |
| Cancer | Cancer |
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